In my 15+ years of graphic design and 10+ years of website design, I've seen it happen time and time again. People think they can do what we do just to save some money. It's even more prevalent now with all of the apps, templates and easy to use technologies available that allow anyone off the street to design and create websites. Some of them more impressive than others, but each one of them has issues.
If that's the way you want to go, I'm not going to stop you. However, I'm here to warn you it's not a long term solution and you're going to regret it. Here are a few reasons why you should hire an expert to create your website from the beginning.
1) This is what we do for a living.
If I had a dollar for every time I heard a client say, "...well I had a web guy, but he just fell off the face of the earth and I never heard from him again...," I would be rich. I don't know what it is about people who casually design websites on the side, but at some point they just disappear. OR the alternative is that you ask "your buddy" who has a full time job doing something different and helps you out in his free time. Well, this guy has a busy week, but you need an urgent update on your website - guess which job takes priority? Not yours. Hiring an expert means you get on-demand service and website updates made within 24-48 hours.
2) We have the eye for design.
I can't tell you how many times I've seen someone who only knows code try and design a website. There are very few coders out there who also have the eye for design. This is the reason why it's best to hire an agency. Instead of one guy, we have several. That means you get the best of the best. A designer is there to make your website pretty. The developer is there to make your website functional. And a marketer is there to make sure your website can be found online. You need all three in order to have a successful website.
3) We are proficient in the latest requirements.
There is a lot of tips and tricks of the trade that only website professionals know. Additionally, there are a lot of components that go into building a website that the client doesn't see. Building a website is a lot like building a house. You see the pretty finished product, but beneath the service is the framing, plumbing, electrical, hvac - all the less pretty, but necessary components. A website is similar in that there are many plug-ins, pieces of custom coding, updates, and best practices that have to be just right. An expert will know how to handle all of these components professionally and with ease.
4) We provide complete support.
Just like a house, a website is never complete. There will always be updates, upgrades, and basic maintenance that you'll need as your business grows. Not to mention, technologies change and more tools become available. Working with a professional is beneficial in this case because we will monitor your SEO, content, analytics, and make changes as needed. We'll also offer our recommendations based on how your website could be improved. You won't get this kind of service with anyone else.
5) You'll spend less money in the long run.
The main reason people tend to go the DIY route when creating a website is because of the sticker shock from a professional website developer. However, I promise you this investment is worth it. You may spend a little more, but at least you can rest easy knowing your website is in the hands of professionals who will design and develop your site quickly, efficiently and correctly. On the other hand, let's say you ask your "buddy" to build your site. It takes months for him to finish because he's doing it in his free time. On top of that, he did not bring your vision to life - it's lacking design and important content. Now, you've wasted months on something that isn't done. Even worse - you're not happy with it or proud to show it to your clients. So what do you do? You go back to the professional and end up spending more money for them to fix it. It's best to just do it right the first time.
Expert designers and developers have spent most of their lives studying website design and development. We spend our days designing and developing websites. We have the knowledge, the practice, the experience. We know there is a right way and there is a wrong way. We know how to write the website for the best SEO. We know how to structure the website so that it's easy to navigate. We know how to make customized changes and updates to properly reflect your business. We know what works and what doesn't work.
So why hire anything less?
Contact us today if you are in need of website design, development, or maintenance.